Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A client who receives multiple antihypertensive multiple medications experiences syncope due to a drop in blood pressure to 70/40 mm Hg. Which is the rationale for the nurse’s decision to hold the client’s scheduled antihypertensive medications?
A. Increased urinary clearance of the multiple medications has produced diuresis and lowered blood pressure.
Option a is incorrect because diuresis (increased urine output) is not a likely cause of the client's hypotension.
B. The synergetic effect of the multiple medication has resulted in drug toxicity and resulting hypotension.
Option b is incorrect because the client's symptoms suggest hypotension due to reduced blood pressure, rather than drug toxicity.
C. The antagonistic interaction among the various blood pressure medications has reduced their effectiveness.
Option c is incorrect because the antagonistic interaction among blood pressure medications would result in reduced effectiveness but would not necessarily cause hypotension.
D. The additive effect of multiple medications has caused the blood pressure to drop too low.
The client is experiencing syncope (fainting) due to a drop in blood pressure to 70/40 mm Hg, which is too low. This suggests that the client's blood pressure medications are reducing their blood pressure too much, resulting in hypotension. The rationale for the nurse's decision to hold the client's scheduled antihypertensive medications is to prevent further hypotension and allow the client's blood pressure to stabilize at a safer level.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - HESI Pharmacology Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
The client is experiencing syncope (fainting) due to a drop in blood pressure to 70/40 mm Hg, which is too low. This suggests that the client's blood pressure medications are reducing their blood pressure too much, resulting in hypotension. The rationale for the nurse's decision to hold the client's scheduled antihypertensive medications is to prevent further hypotension and allow the client's blood pressure to stabilize at a safer level.
Option a is incorrect because diuresis (increased urine output) is not a likely cause of the client's hypotension.
Option b is incorrect because the client's symptoms suggest hypotension due to reduced blood pressure, rather than drug toxicity.
Option c is incorrect because the antagonistic interaction among blood pressure medications would result in reduced effectiveness but would not necessarily cause hypotension.
Similar Questions
The nurse is caring for a client who is taking diclofenac, an NSAID drug for rheumatoid arthritis. During a clinic visit, the client appears pale and reports increasing fatigue. Which of the client’s serum laboratory values is most important for the nurse to review?
A. Glucose
B. Total protein
C. Sodium
D. Hemoglobin
Diclofenac, like other NSAIDs, can cause gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding. The client’s symptoms of pallor and fatigue may indicate anemia due to blood loss. Reviewing the client’s hemoglobin level would help the nurse determine if the client is experiencing anemia and if further evaluation and intervention are needed.
Full Explanation
Diclofenac, like other NSAIDs, can cause gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding. The client’s symptoms of pallor and fatigue may indicate anemia due to blood loss. Reviewing the client’s hemoglobin level would help the nurse determine if the client is experiencing anemia and if further evaluation and intervention are needed.
Prior to administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse noted that the client’s morning carbamazepine level was 8.4 mg/L. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Withhold this dose of carbamazepine.
B. Notify the healthcare provider of the carbamazepine level.
C. Assess the client for side effects of carbamazepine.
D. Administer the carbamazepine as prescribed.
A carbamazepine level of 8.4 mg/L is within the therapeutic range of 4-12 mg/L. The nurse should administer the evening dose of carbamazepine as prescribed. The nurse should continue to monitor the client’s carbamazepine levels and assess for any side effects of the medication.
Full Explanation
A carbamazepine level of 8.4 mg/L is within the therapeutic range of 4-12 mg/L. The nurse should administer the evening dose of carbamazepine as prescribed. The nurse should continue to monitor the client’s carbamazepine levels and assess for any side effects of the medication.
The nurse assesses a client with intermittent claudication who is receiving pentoxifylline. Which assessment should the nurse perform to determine the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Evaluate the level of consciousness.
B. Auscultate bowel sounds.
C. Measure hourly urinary output.
D. Monitor numeric pain scale.
Intermittent claudication is a condition in which there is pain in the legs due to reduced blood flow. Pentoxifylline is a medication that can improve blood flow by reducing the viscosity of the blood. Therefore, to determine the effectiveness of the medication in managing intermittent claudication, the nurse should monitor the client's pain level using a numeric pain scale. This will help to assess if the medication provides pain relief and improving the client's ability to walk without discomfort. Options a, b, and c are not relevant to the assessment of the effectiveness of pentoxifylline in managing intermittent claudication.
Full Explanation
Intermittent claudication is a condition in which there is pain in the legs due to reduced blood flow. Pentoxifylline is a medication that can improve blood flow by reducing the viscosity of the blood. Therefore, to determine the effectiveness of the medication in managing intermittent claudication, the nurse should monitor the client's pain level using a numeric pain scale. This will help to assess if the medication provides pain relief and improving the client's ability to walk without discomfort.
Options a, b, and c are not relevant to the assessment of the effectiveness of pentoxifylline in managing intermittent claudication.
